French president Emmanuel Macron, right, accompanies Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on December 22, 2017. Francois Mori / AP Photo
French president Emmanuel Macron, right, accompanies Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on December 22, 2017. Francois Mori / AP Photo
French president Emmanuel Macron, right, accompanies Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on December 22, 2017. Francois Mori / AP Photo
French president Emmanuel Macron, right, accompanies Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on December 22, 2017. Francois Mori / AP Photo

Palestinians will not accept any US peace plan, says Abbas


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Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday that his people would not accept any peace plan proposed by Washington, a day after the UN General Assembly overwhelming rejected Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital despite US threats.

"The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process and we will no longer accept any plan from the United States," Mr Abbas said after meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

US president Trump has said his administration was preparing a plan which was expected to be presented to the two sides in 2018. However his announcement on December 6 that the US considered Jerusalem to be the Israeli capital caused outrage among Palestinians, who want the east of the Israeli-occupied city to be the capital of their future state.

Mr Abbas also hit out at efforts by the US to intimidate countries ahead of the UN vote on Thursday.

"I hope that the others will learn the lesson and understand that you cannot impose solutions by using money and trying to buy off countries," the Palestinian president said.

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The vote saw 128 countries condemn Washington's new position on Jerusalem despite the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, warning that their stance would affect "how Americans ... look at countries who disrespect us in the UN."

Mr Macron repeated his earlier condemnations of the US decision on Jerusalem, but he also ruled out recognising Palestine as a state unilaterally, which France has mooted previously.

"The Americans have marginalised themselves and I am trying to not do the same thing," he said.

"The solution will be built around two states so inevitably there will be a moment in the process when there is recognition. I want to do it at a moment that will help build peace on the ground."

Mr Macron has also ruled out launching a fresh French peace initiative in the short term, saying he is waiting to see what happens with the American effort.

The 40-year-old French leader has stepped up his meetings with leaders from the Middle East in recent weeks, hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris less than a fortnight ago and Jordan's King Abdullah on Thursday.

Mr Macron said he would visit the Palestinian territories in 2018.

"I have committed myself very clearly to doing everything" to further the peace process, he said.

Mr Abbas praised Mr Macron's efforts as a mediator.

"We have trust in you. We respect the efforts made by you and we count heavily on your efforts," he said.

Mr Abbas's visit to Paris came a day after talks in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

They discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and intensified practical efforts to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir and director of general intelligence Khalid Al Humaidan also attended the meeting.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh on December 21, 2017. Palestinian President Office via Reuters
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh on December 21, 2017. Palestinian President Office via Reuters

Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

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ICC T20 Team of 2021

Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

match info

Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')

Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')

Man of the match  Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs: Volvo XC40

Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000

Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km

Brief scores:

Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first

Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)

Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out

Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)

Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

UAE Team Emirates

Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)

The Disaster Artist

Director: James Franco

Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan

Four stars

The biog

Name: Younis Al Balooshi

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn

Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Brief scoreline:

Wales 1

James 5'

Slovakia 0

Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

W.
Wael Kfoury
(Rotana)